Locomotive stoker



Dec; l0, 1940.

LOCOMTIVE STOKER c. J. sURDY 2,224,402

Filed May 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Char/'e5 J Sura/y BY Jud/)mj ATT RNEYS Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STAT jES LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Charles J. Surely, EriefPa., vassigner to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporationof Delaware Application May 20, 1933, Serial No. 274,742

Claims.

This invention relates .to locomotive stokers of the type which Vfeed through an opening in the rebox backwall.

, A locomotive stoker ofthe general type specified includes a conduit .for delivering coal to a distributing mechanism positionedat the ring opening in theV iirebox backwall; the distributing mechanism consisting of a pressure fluid jet arranged'to project fuel across'the upper surface of 1a distributing table which extends through the ring opening and into thefirebox. The distributing table is provided with suitable ribs for causing equal distribution of coal over the iirebox. With the distributing table .so positioned in a ring opening ofthe size and design hereinbefore specied it forms, together with the upper marginal edge of the 'firing opening, a restricted ltunnel formation through which mechanics must enter the 'rebox One object of this invention is to connect the distributing table' to an exterior movable portion of the Stoker conduit whereby movement of the latter will cause withdrawal of the l distributing plate `from `its operative position in the firing opening. In this manner, the restricted tunnel formation may be readily eliminated when desired, thereby rendering access to the interior of the firebox more convenient.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stoker which feeds through a ring opening in a wall of the furnace, the Stoker beincr provi-ded opposite the firing opening with I an exterior wall pivotally .mounted to swing away from the furnace wall and also carrying a dis- 3 tributing table mounted thereon for swinging movement, together with said pivotally mounted exterior wall, in a direction `away from the firing opening.

It is also an object of this invention 'to prol vide a stoker which feeds through a firing opening in the wall of the furnace and having its upper portion which embraces such opening provided with an aperture adapted .to .be covered `by a suitable door; the stoker being provided 41'.: inmediately beneath such door with an exterior wall pivotally mounted to swing away from the furnace wall and carrying a distributing table secured .thereto `for swinging movement away from its position in the firing opening.

A more spr-:cie object of this invention is to utilize the door, as above specified, for the purpose of maintaining the pivotally mounted exterior wall of the stoker in operative position.

Other objects reside in the particular formation of the parts, and their relation one with the firing opening I2.

another as will become apparent from the following description When read'inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the rearward portion of a locomotive rebox showing the Stoker according to this invention partly in similar section and partly in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the firing opening taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l; ill) Figure 3 is an end elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 1 taken on line 3-3 thereof with portions removed andL parts shown in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view in plan taken along 'T15 the line 4 4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is also 'a sectional view in plan taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now to these drawings, L indicates a locomotive having a boiler I@ provided with a "20 backwall II in which ythere is an opening' I2 providing an entranceway into the rebox or furnace I3. In most cases the firing opening I2 is in the form of an ellipse, the major vand minor axes of which measure approximately 20 `"25 `inches and 16 inches, respectively. yA Stoker,

generally indicated by S, `feeds into the rebox I3 through the firing opening I2 and includes a conduit element I4 secured by bolts I5 to a terl; minal Vmember I6 which in turn is secured by30 bolts such as I1 to the baokwall Il. The terminal member I6 includes side walls I'S, I9 and a top wall 2li; the side and top walls embracing At their forward ends the side and top walls extend clos-ely adjacent -35 the marginal edge of the firing opening I2 and in rearward extent flare laterally to provide, opposite said `firing opening I2, an aperture 2| which is .closed in part by the pneumaticallyy operated iiredoor 22 and the rear exterior wall `40 23 of the terminal member I6.

On its upper rearward wall the conduit element 'i4 is provided with a pair of spaced ears or lugs 24, 25 which t between complementary lugs 26, 21 formed with the exterior wall'23.v A '45 pin 28 is passed 'through the lugs of the conduit element M an-d the terminal portion i6 to form a pivotal connection yabout which the exterior wall 23 may swing. On each lateral side thereof the rearwall 23 has inwardly turned flanges 29"'1'50 and 30 the bottom of each of which lis adapted to rest upon a corresponding ledge 3l, 32 of the terminal member I6. The firing door 22, when closed, retains the exterior wall 23 in the position shown in 'Figure 1. 25.5

Closely adjacent the lower marginal edge of firing opening I2 and disposed along the plane of .the outer surface of the backhead II is a pressure fluid nozzle 35 having provided therein a plurality of chambers 36 which receive fluid under pressure from suitable connections such as 3l. The nozzle 35 is provided with forwardly directed jet apertures 38 for issuing blasts of pressure fluid across the upper surface 39 of a distributing table 40. Ribs 4I, 42 are formed on the upper surface 39 of the table 4U and cooperate with the blasts of pressure iiuid issuing from the nozzle 35 for distributing fuel to all portions of the lrebox as it is delivered by the stoker S. On each lateral side thereof the distributing plate 40 is provided with an upstanding wall 43, 44, the upper portion of each of said walls being in abutting relation with the forward ends of respective flanges 29, 3D of the pivotally mounted exterior wall 23. Aligned bolts 45, 45 passing respectively through the walls 43, 44 of the distributing table 40 and through the inwardly turned flanges 29, 30 of the pivotally mounted exterior wall 23 are utilized to form a pivotal connection between the wall 23 and the distributing table 40. The rearward edge of the upper surface 39 of the distributor table 48 is engaged beneath the forward end of the jet nozzle 35, the relation of parts being such that by pushing the distributing table forwardly, the latter can be disengaged from the nozzle 35 as shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure l.

During normal operation of the device fuel is conveyed through the conduit element. I4 and terminal member I6 in a manner well-known in the art and is deposited on the upper surface 39 of the plate 40 from which it is swept forwardly into the irebox by the action of the pressure fluid blasts issuing from the jet nozzle 35. Whenever it is necessary to inspect the condition of the fire, the iiredoor 22 is opened in the customary manner and inspection of the i'lre is made through that portion of the aperture 2l which is above Athe pivotally mounted wall 23. Since the upper end of the top wall 23 extends: a considerable distance above the lower marginal edge of the firing opening I2, that portion of the firing opening I2 above the plane of such wall A23 usually is insuicient to allow mechanics to enter the rebox. With the present invention, whenever it is desired to enter the firebox, the firedoor 22 is opened and then the distributing table 23 is tilted so as to disengage the jet nozzle 35. When the parts are in this position the pivotally mounted rear wall 23 may be swungv about the axis of the supporting pin 28. It will, of course, be understood that when the wall 23 isI swung rearwardly, the distributing table 40 is withdrawn from its operative position in the firing opening as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. In order that the lower wall 50 of the distributing table 40 may not be engaged by the jet nozzle 35 during withdrawal of the distributing table a rib is provided which, during withdrawal of the .plate 4B, rides along the upper forward edge of the nozzle 35 to prevent downward movement of the table 40.

` With the pivotally mounted exterior wall 23 and distributing table 40 removed from operative position, the only restriction then offered to entrance into the rebox is formed by the upper edge of the firing opening I2 and the upper end of the jet nozzle 35. However, since the latter is very narrow this arrangement does not, in practice, constitute an obstruction because there is no extensive tunnel formation through which mechanics must enter or a ledge over which the mechanic must crawl. It will also be apparent that the pivotal arrangement of the distributor plate 40 and the exterior wall 23 provides a very convenient way of withdrawing the distributing table 40 from its operative position whenever it is desired to replace it. By this arrangement of parts it is possible to replace the table from a position exteriorly of the furnace I3.

"Io those familiar in the art it will be apparent that a stoker according to the present invention can be readily applied to locomotives having ring openings of existing form. Also, the arrangement provides free access to the interior of the rebox.

While the invention as illustrated is shown applied to the locomotive, it will be obvious that certain features are capable of more wide-spread use. The following claims define the invention.

I claim:

1. In a furnace having an upright wall provided with a ring opening therethrough, a stoker for feeding fuel into said rebox comprising a conduit element having a terminal portion communicating with said firing opening, said terminal portion havinga rear wall pivotally mounted for movement away from sai-d firing opening about a horizontal axis, a distributingtable positioned in said firing opening, and means for pivotally connecting said distributing table to said pivotally mounted rear wall for movement about a horizontally disposed axis.

2. In a furnace having an upright wall provided with a ring opening therethrough, a stoker for feeding fuel into said rebox comprising a conduit element having a terminal portion cornmunicating with said firing opening, said terminal portion having a rear wall pivotally mounted for movement away from said ring opening about a horizontal axis, a distributing table positioned in said firing opening, means for pivotally connectingsaid distributing table to said pivotally mounted rear wall for movement about a horizontally disposed axis, and means for restraining downwardmovement of said pivotally mounted distributing tabe from its operative position. v

k3. In a furnace having an upright'wall provided with a f firing opening therethrough, a stoker for feeding fuel into said iirebox comprising a conduit element having a terminal portion communicating with said ring opening, said terminal portion having a rear wall pivotally mounted `for movement away from said firing opening about a horizontal axis, a pair of flanges, one at each side of said pivotally mounted rear wall, extending toward said firing opening, a distributing table positioned insaid firing opening, a pairof upstanding walls, one on each side of said distributing table and means passing through the said'upstanding walls of said distributing table and through the inwardly extending flanges of said pivotally mounted rear wall forming a pivotal connection for said distributing table whereby the latter may swing with respect to said pivotally mountedrear wallon a horizontal axis.

4. In a furnace having anupright wall provided with a firing opening therethrough, a stoker for feeding fuel into said i'lrebox comprising a conduit element having a terminal portion cornmunicating with said firing opening, said terminal portion including a top wall and side walls embracing corresponding portions of the firing opening and being provided Opposite said firing opening with an aperture dened bythe rear edges of the to-p and side walls, a door closing a portion of such aperture, said terminal portion immediately beneath said 4door having a rear wall closing the remainder of said aperture and being pivotally mounted for movement away from said firing opening about a horizontal axis, a distributing table positioned in said firing opening, and means for pivotally connecting said distributing table to said pivotally mounted rear Wall for movement about a horizontally disposed axis.

5. In a furnace having an upright Wall provided With a firing opening therethrough, a. stoker for feeding fuel into said rebox comprising a conduit element having a terminal portion communicating With said firing opening, said terminal portion including a top wall and side walls embracing corresponding portions of the firing opening and being provided opposite said firing opening with an aperture defined by the rear edges of the top and side Walls, a door closing a portion of such aperture, said terminal portion immediately beneath said door having a rear Wall closing the remainder of said aperture, said rear wall being pivotally mounted for movement away from said ring opening about a horizontal axis, a stop element limiting pivotal movement of said rear Wall in a direction toward said firing opening, said door normally restraining rearward movement of said rear Wall about its pivotal mounting, a distributing table positioned in said firing opening, and means for pivotally connecting said distributing table to said pivotally mounted rear Wall for movement about a horizontally disposed axis.

CHARLES J. SURDY. 

